Pivot for blind-slats.



No. 647,029. Pa tented Apr. I0, moo.

- E. RANDOLPH.

PIVOT FOR BLIND SLATS.

(Application filed. July 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

W M d 5 Day co.. PNQTO-LITNOU WASHINDYON n c UNTTTD STATES FATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND RANDOLPH, on JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

PIVOT FOR BLlND-SLATS.

SPEGIFIGATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,029, dated April 10, 1906.

Application filed July 19, 1899. Serial No. 724,409; ca model.)

Be it known that I, EDMUND RANDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at J acksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Pivot for Blind-Slats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic pivots for blind-slats, and has for its object to provide an improved pivot which is formed from a single blank of metal bent in an improved manner, so as to afford means for conveniently and durably connecting the pivot to an end of a slat, and also to provide a rigid bearing portion for the pivot.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a blind having parts of the side rails thereof broken away to show the pivots of the slats. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of one end of a slat having the improved pivot applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line a 00 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a pivot constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the pivot is formed.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a blind having the usual slats 2, which are provided at opposite ends with pivots 3, loosely mounted within suitable sockets provided in the inner edges of the opposite side rails 4 of the blind. Ordinarily these pivots are of wood, being formed integral with the slats, and being exposed to the effect of the weather soon become rotted and useless, and the slat frequently becomes entirely de-- tached from the blind. The present invention is designed to take the place of these facture of the slats or after the wooden piv-.

ots have become useless.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 of e the drawings, it will be seen that the pivot is formed from a substantially T-shaped blank of sheet metal comprising a flat shank 5 and the opposite wings 6, which form the head of of the T-shaped blank. The longitudinal edges of the shank are bent in opposite directions to form the clamping-flanges 7 and 7, the former being disconnected from the adjacent wing by cutting said flange transversely, as at 8, and in line with the inner edge of the wing. The dotted lines 9 on the blank indicate the line of the bend for each flange. The wings 6 extend outwardly a suitable distance beyond the outer edges of the respective flanges 7 and 7 and are bent in opposite directions into semitubular shape and located at opposite sides of the shank 5, thereby forming a tubular pivot having the outer end of the shank forming a diametric brace 10, located entirely within the hollow pivot. It will be understood that the flange 7 a being connected to the adjacent Wing 6 is bent therewith, as shown in Fig. 4; but the other flange 7 is not bent until after being fitted to the slat, so as to facilitate the engagement of the flat shank with the slot in the slat.. In fitting the pivot thus formed to a slat a longitudinal slot 11 is sawed or otherwise formed in the end of the slat and the shank 5 of the pivot driven laterally edgewise into said slot, allowing the inner end of the tubular portion of the pivot to abut against the end of the slat, after which the flange 7 is bent against the side of the slat and pressed therein. Thus it will be seen that the pivot may be readily fitted to slats without the employment of skilled labor and are also firmly mounted in position. The diametric brace 10 prevents a collapsing of the tubular portion of the pivot, thus preserving the shape thereof, so that the pivot is always in condition for application to a blind.

What I claim is- 1. A metallic pivot for blind-slats, formed from a single blank of metal, and comprising a flat attaching-shank, having lateral wings located at one end thereof, and projecting in opposite directions from opposite edges thereof, said wings being bent in reverse directions and forming semitubular members, the latter being located at opposite sides of the shank, and the combined semitubular members forming a tubular pivot, substantially as shown and described.

2. A metallic pivot for blind-slats, formed from a substantially T-sha'ped blank, the shank thereof having longitudinally-extending flanges, and the opposite wings, forming the head of the T-shaped blank, being bent into semitubular shape at opposite sides of the shank and forming a tubular pivot, the adjacent end of the shank being located Within the tubular pivot and forming a diametric brace therefor, substantially as shown and dc scribed.

3. A metallic pivot for blind-slats, comprising a tubular pivot proper, having a diametric brace, and an attaching-shank projecting from one end of the tubular pivot, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND RANDOLPH.

, WVitnesses:

THOMAS H. BLENNs, J. H. STEPHENS. 

